Fujifilm and Noritsu Koki to Form Global Alliance in Photofinishing Field Aiming to Enhance retail printing services

March 13, 2006

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shigetaka Komori; hereafter, Fujifilm) and Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Tsutomu Satani; hereafter, Noritsu Koki) have agreed to form a global alliance in the field of photofinishing as part of their efforts to expand demand for "Retail Printing" by enhancing their services. "Retail Printing" offers "Easy, Beautiful and Longlasting" printing services from images captured with digital cameras in addition to images captured with film.

Due to the popularity of digital cameras, the needs of customers for higher quality printing of their captured images is rising year after year.
In line with the progress of the digitalization of photography and in order to respond to various needs of customers, Fujifilm and Noritsu Koki have developed high-performance Digital Minilabs as well as high quality photographic color paper and chemicals. Furthermore, the two companies have been stimulating global demand for "Retail Printing" to provide high quality and long lasting silver halide photography prints of images captured with digital cameras.
The two companies will be considering further alliances in the photofinishing field in the future, however, their initial engagement will be in a global collaboration with regards to the development of Digital Minilab products and after sales services. It will be possible for both companies to develop Digital Minilabs with higher quality in an efficient manner by fusing technologies that have been nurtured over the years, which will result in the provision of services of a higher dimension to customers. For retailers, the two will be able to offer proposals for further improved convenient use of Digital Minilabs. Furthermore, both companies aim to establish an enhanced and efficient after sales service system through cooperative efforts in the field of after sales services for Digital Minilab systems.

With the progress of digital imaging technology, the photo activities are undergoing greater diversification. Consumers are now not only able to print images but also view them on display monitors at home or processing images on their computers, as well as send them over broadband in high-speed image communications. Fujifilm and Noritsu Koki will provide a variety of solutions in the world of imaging, which is expected to show enhanced growth in the future. In addition, they will contribute to the further development of the culture of photography by fusing and evolving technologies in the field of photofinishing focusing mainly on digital minilabs which are essential to "Retail Printing" services.

Details of Alliance

(1) Product Development
Fujifilm and Noritsu Koki will be taking part in technical alliances in order to raise the level of efficiency for the development of high performance Digital Minilabs.

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Fujifilm will license Noritsu Koki to use their main technologies for Digital Minilabs to produce high quality prints. Noritsu Koki will combine these technologies with their own production technologies and know-how to develop and produce Digital Minilabs.

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Both companies will add the newly developed Digital Minilabs to their own line of products.

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The two companies will market the first of such products, a reasonably priced Digital Minilab. It is equipped with the new Noritsu Koki-developed "iBeam Engine"*1 and it supports the FUJIFILM CP-49E Chemical System"*2 which makes high quality prints when combined with FUJIFILM color papers.

(2) Cooperation in After Sales Service
The two companies will cooperate in the field of after sales services for the Digital Minilabs of both companies which are currently being used in "Retail Printing".

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The companies aim to provide consistent and reliable services for users of Digital Minilabs through the establishment of a program for more efficient delivery of services.